PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS.

Evening Star, Issue 20672, 20 December 1930, Page 26

PORT CHALMERS AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITOK. Sir,—ln view of tho personal statements made in “ Storm Clouds’ ’’ letter permit me space to reply. 1 reiterate my previous statement that a person who has not the courage to sign his name to a statement is not worthy of very much consideration. At tho same time, however, when irresponsible statements are made which aro likely to have the effect of putting Port Chalmers affairs before tho public in an 'unfavourable light 1 have sufficient interest in the place to repudiate such statements, and so in some small measure help to maintain the honoured position which the town has always been held in, particularly by those outside of the borough. I am not seeking any “ limelight indulgence,” but according to “ Storm Clouds’ ” letter and his knowledge of the representatives ol the Ratepayers’ Association I feel sure that my previous statement that tho association has been formed possibly as an election committee is not far from the point. I have no fear of an election committee, and I did servo on one in connection ivith the last mayoral election at Port Chalmers, and if given the opportunity will again serve on that committee to return to power a respected and trustworthy citizen to the position of chief magistrate. The public gossip referred _ to by “Storm Clouds ” is as unreliable as many of the figures and statements made by him. I am not aspiring to any further municipal honours, so that this statement will probably put “ Storm Clouds’ mind at rest in so far as any opposition on ray part to him or his colleagues is concerned. In any case, the committee which I served on previously was one called for the specific purpose, and was not a meeting called under another cloak.

Regarding tho work in George street, let me point out to “ Stoxun Clouds ’ that if he had taken tho trouble to make inquiries at tho town clerk’s office he would have known that the construction work already carried out on George street highway was subsidised by the Government £1 for £l, not £2 ior £l. Tho £2 for £1 subsidy only applies to tho future work which will bo earned out. Let me point out to “ Storm Clouds ” also that in connection with George street the original estimate by a qualified engineer for the work so far attempted was approximately £/40 Owing to unforeseen difficulties which arose during tho course of the work that estimate was considerably exceeded, but up to the present it lias been possible to obtain only £1 for £1 subsidy on the original estimate; and the sum received by way of subsidy is only approximately £370. There is no doubt that if the preliminary work had been carried out at a cost within the estimate there would have been no necessity for the council to dispense with any of its employees or to put them on reduced time. Let me also add that the additional cost of that work has up to the present been borne out of revenue, and, as I previously stated, it cannot bo said that tho other maintenance work in tho borough has suffered as a result. Regarding tho reference to the work done in the vicinity of the peninsula, for “ Storm Clouds’ ” information, that work was carried out with Poppy Day funds, but if ho is not aware of the fact It is only right to inform him that the Poppy Day funds, which are subsidised not only by the council, but by the Government, can. be used to a very large extent only in payment ot wages, and that any material, cartingetc., required must be paid for out ot funds other than those collected as a result of Poppy Day or the subsidy. Therefore part of the revenue had to be used for tho work in question. Matters have not yet reached finality in 1 connection with Mussel Bay, and it may be interesting to “ Storm Clouds to note that it was only at the last meeting of the council that the plans of the proposed work were received, and thev have yet to he further considered by the council. The present council is fully alive to its responsibilities, and in view of the expense involved in connection with tho reclamation of Mussel Bay the ratepayers have a right for that matter to be very fully considered before any action is taken. These matters cannot bo attended to in a day, and although the matter may have been under discussion for a long time it is far better that it be fully considered than, on the other hand, to rush the matter, perhaps with disastrous results.

However, “Storm Clouds” no doubt will have an opportunity in May next of seeking municipal honours, and I hope that he is successful. No doubt with a little experience on the council he will learn that it is advantageous when making statements to quote actual facts. He should remember the old saying that you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.— l am, etc., L. F. Smith. December 18.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I was interested to read Cr L. F. Smith’s letter of the 11th inst., and hasten to assure him that while we appreciate tho councillors’ services, still we reserve the right to criticise rheir actions. Like Cr Smith, 1 am of the opinion that the recently formed Ratepayers’ Association is a rather clever move to get a certain person support in tho forthcoming election. It is a great pity that those who elected Mr Anderson as chairman of the association did not road the leading articles in the local papers at tho finish of the last municipal elections, when they congratulated tho electors on deposing Mr Anderson. Mr Anderson at all times talks a lot about being a working man and helping the working man, but T would like to know bow long ho has been a member of tho Labour Party, or, for that matter, of any union. Regarding the _ gasworks, T have made a few enquiries and find that in 1927-28 wages and salaries amounted to approximately £424, 1928-29 £371, 1929-30 £450, and assuming that wages and salaries are paid at tho present rate until tho end of this financial year they will amount to £516 or £66 rrioro than last year. I demand to know why a ratepayer docs not got tho opportunity to assist tho engineer.

lb certainly seems unreasonable that an immigrant, a single man, who arrived here towards _ the end or May of this year, gets immediate employment at the gasworks by his brother, the engineer, and lias drawn approximately £l9 monthly, while dozens of ratepayers who have lived hero lor years do not got the opportunity to take on this work. The never-ending expenditure at the gasworks is causing much concern, and it will doubtless surprise councillors that without taking interest, depreciation, or renewal fund into account, the expenditure is as follows:—l927-28 £1,971, 1928-29 £1,817, 1929-30 £1.993, and 1930-31 on the present average monthly expenditure, £2,198. The estimated revenue for 1930-31 will bo approximately the same as 1929-30. so that means that the gasworks will have cost another £2OO more without earning a penny more than last year. Finally, when the present engineer took charge of the gasworks it was clearly stated to bo a one-man job, but now with his brother helping him it has developed into a one-family job. The wages now paid are exactly double what it was intended to pay when he took over. Regarding the children’s playground, did any of the local firms who are ratopajers get an opportunity to quote? Surely Cr Smith will not ho foolish enough to suggest that a firm like Stevenson and Cook, ■who have built dredges and repaired the whaler _ s.s. Larsen, cannot build children’s swings. It is most amusing to read of Mr T. Anderson talking about _ old employees going on the bread-line. Had ho managed the borough better when lie was mayor, there would have been no need for employees to be put off. U was Mr Anderson’s idea to buy a tractor and roller; this cost £CSO, and the annual upkeep is over £250 per annum ; and when any roads require rolling the council has to get the loan of another local body’s roller at £5 10s a day Wonderful, isn’t it? Especially when one remembers that it was bought out of £1,500 war bonds that were held in reserve when Mr Anderson took over. —I am, etc, Ponr. December 18.